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The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - just about everything one could ever ask for
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - just about everything one could ever ask for!
By Christopher Skelley
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo currently covers some 183 acres, with more than 3000 animals comprised of over 600 species. But the zoo got its start with rather humble beginnings; back in 1882, a mere 30 acres of land and 14 deer were donated to the city by Jeptha H. Wade, an American industrialist, philanthropist, portrait painter, and a founding member of Western Union Telegraph. A decision in 1907 to use Mr. Wade’s land (for the future site of the Cleveland Museum of Art) forced the zoo to move to its current location. Over the next several decades, the zoo continually expanded until it reached the impressive size and scope of today.
Like so many other zoos, the Cleveland Zoo has moved from just a place to see exotic animals to an organization which takes an active role in conservation. On their website is this statement: “The Zoo has been working to protect wildlife around the world for more than two decades. We are confronting the most vital, complex and emerging threats to species survival in the wild. Our wildlife conservation efforts protect species today and benefit wildlife, human communities and the habitats we share into the future.” It’s nice to know that just by visiting the zoo, you are contributing to eco-friendly policies and helping their conservation efforts.
The zoo has 7 main areas to explore: African Elephant Crossing; African Savanna; Australian Adventure; Northern Trek; Primates, Cats & Aquatics; Waterfowl Lake; and the Welcome Plaza, which is the main entrance to the park and includes an information center, a large gift shop, a food court, a picnic pavilion, restrooms and a first aid station. It’s also where you’ll see the new lion enclosure, and it leads to the huge elephant habitat. Independent of the zoo (but adjacent to it) is The Rain Forest; tickets can be purchased to include The Rain Forest in your visit to the zoo, or you may purchase tickets separately.
A tram eases movement from one section of the zoo to another and provides a relaxing way to glide past several of the outdoor animal enclosures. (It’s also very helpful in traveling up the significant rise in elevation to the area where the Primates, Cats & Aquatics are located). The historic carousel -- displaying more than 60, beautifully-carved, colorful animals -- makes for an enjoyable diversion during your visit, and is sure to put a smile on the faces of visitors both young and old. Attractions themed for children (and grandchildren!) include the Boomerang Line Train, the Petting Zoo, the 50+ foot tall “Yagga Tree” that encompasses a huge slide and a suspension bridge, and Nature Discovery Ridge, a large play area with rocks, trees and water features to encourage children to be active and explore the natural world. All of these child-themed attractions are located within the Australian Adventure.
There are many great exhibits at the zoo, but a few highlights would have to include these stand-outs:
- Lorikeet Aviary, where one walks into an open-air enclosure to feed brightly-colored, friendly little Australian Lorikeets which often land on your shoulder to feed from the small cups of nectar provided by zoo staff.
- Northern Trek has one of the most varied collections of bears anywhere in the US, as well as seals, sea lions, cold-weather camels, Amur Tigers, (the largest cat in the world!), and “Wolf Wilderness,” an authentic lodge with a huge wall of windows inside, overlooking a natural, wooded area that is home to several beautiful Mexican Grey Wolves. Be sure to stop by the polar bear exhibit, where the inhabitants can often be seen swimming in the pool or playing under the waterfall.
- Giraffe Encounter is a great place to see these gentle giants. The giraffes are free to move about in an open grassy area, but a viewing platform extends from one of the major thoroughfares at a much higher elevation; the heads and necks of the animals are close to the level of the visitors, and edible plants may be purchased to feed these huge, but docile, creatures.
- The Deckwalk is built along the side of a large, wooded hillside, and connects the Australian Adventure to the Primates, Cats & Aquatics areas; there is a substantial difference in elevation between these areas, and the Deckwalk provides a safe and serene way to walk down the wooded hillside. I highly recommend riding the Tram up to the Primates, Cats & Aquatics area, then walking back down the Deckwalk. Gradually-sloped ramps and staircases make for a leisurely walk through the cool, shaded woods on a warm day. There is also a scenic overlook, with beautiful views of Waterfowl Lake in the distance.
- The Public Greenhouse is small, but has a nice variety of plants and tropical flowers. It also offers a chance to see several different butterfly species which are released in the warm, humid space that mimics the jungles of their native countries.
- Inside The Rain Forest, a thunderstorm occurs over a small, indoor lake every 20 minutes or so, complete with thunder and lightning! This large, glass-domed building is also the home of boa constrictors, capybara, ocelots, piranha, orangutan, caiman, and several small but intensely-colored frogs and amphibians. There is a waterfall inside the building, and several tropical plants – including orchids and bromeliads – are also on display.
Conveniently located throughout the park are benches, great for taking a few minutes to rest or just people-watch. There are also several restrooms and a few small food stands, offering things like hotdogs, soft pretzels, sno-cones, cotton candy and soft drinks. The Food Court includes restaurants like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, particularly good for children who might prefer familiar choices for dinner. Of course you can also bring a cooler with you, which may be left in the Picnic Pavilion.
The Cleveland Zoo is a great place to spend a day; the several ecologically-themed habitats are visually interesting, and the wide variety of animals is impressive. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, gorillas, lemurs, orangutans, spider monkeys, zebras, wolves, bears, giraffes, kangaroos, koalas, condors, eagles, rhinos, hippos, elephants… they have just about everything one could ever ask for!
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is located at 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109.
Visit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website at https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo
To learn more about things to see and do in Cleveland, visit http://www.thisiscleveland.com/
For gay traveler information about Cleveland, visit http://www.thisiscleveland.com/planning-tools/lgbt/
By Christopher Skelley
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo currently covers some 183 acres, with more than 3000 animals comprised of over 600 species. But the zoo got its start with rather humble beginnings; back in 1882, a mere 30 acres of land and 14 deer were donated to the city by Jeptha H. Wade, an American industrialist, philanthropist, portrait painter, and a founding member of Western Union Telegraph. A decision in 1907 to use Mr. Wade’s land (for the future site of the Cleveland Museum of Art) forced the zoo to move to its current location. Over the next several decades, the zoo continually expanded until it reached the impressive size and scope of today.
Like so many other zoos, the Cleveland Zoo has moved from just a place to see exotic animals to an organization which takes an active role in conservation. On their website is this statement: “The Zoo has been working to protect wildlife around the world for more than two decades. We are confronting the most vital, complex and emerging threats to species survival in the wild. Our wildlife conservation efforts protect species today and benefit wildlife, human communities and the habitats we share into the future.” It’s nice to know that just by visiting the zoo, you are contributing to eco-friendly policies and helping their conservation efforts.
The zoo has 7 main areas to explore: African Elephant Crossing; African Savanna; Australian Adventure; Northern Trek; Primates, Cats & Aquatics; Waterfowl Lake; and the Welcome Plaza, which is the main entrance to the park and includes an information center, a large gift shop, a food court, a picnic pavilion, restrooms and a first aid station. It’s also where you’ll see the new lion enclosure, and it leads to the huge elephant habitat. Independent of the zoo (but adjacent to it) is The Rain Forest; tickets can be purchased to include The Rain Forest in your visit to the zoo, or you may purchase tickets separately.
A tram eases movement from one section of the zoo to another and provides a relaxing way to glide past several of the outdoor animal enclosures. (It’s also very helpful in traveling up the significant rise in elevation to the area where the Primates, Cats & Aquatics are located). The historic carousel -- displaying more than 60, beautifully-carved, colorful animals -- makes for an enjoyable diversion during your visit, and is sure to put a smile on the faces of visitors both young and old. Attractions themed for children (and grandchildren!) include the Boomerang Line Train, the Petting Zoo, the 50+ foot tall “Yagga Tree” that encompasses a huge slide and a suspension bridge, and Nature Discovery Ridge, a large play area with rocks, trees and water features to encourage children to be active and explore the natural world. All of these child-themed attractions are located within the Australian Adventure.
There are many great exhibits at the zoo, but a few highlights would have to include these stand-outs:
- Lorikeet Aviary, where one walks into an open-air enclosure to feed brightly-colored, friendly little Australian Lorikeets which often land on your shoulder to feed from the small cups of nectar provided by zoo staff.
- Northern Trek has one of the most varied collections of bears anywhere in the US, as well as seals, sea lions, cold-weather camels, Amur Tigers, (the largest cat in the world!), and “Wolf Wilderness,” an authentic lodge with a huge wall of windows inside, overlooking a natural, wooded area that is home to several beautiful Mexican Grey Wolves. Be sure to stop by the polar bear exhibit, where the inhabitants can often be seen swimming in the pool or playing under the waterfall.
- Giraffe Encounter is a great place to see these gentle giants. The giraffes are free to move about in an open grassy area, but a viewing platform extends from one of the major thoroughfares at a much higher elevation; the heads and necks of the animals are close to the level of the visitors, and edible plants may be purchased to feed these huge, but docile, creatures.
- The Deckwalk is built along the side of a large, wooded hillside, and connects the Australian Adventure to the Primates, Cats & Aquatics areas; there is a substantial difference in elevation between these areas, and the Deckwalk provides a safe and serene way to walk down the wooded hillside. I highly recommend riding the Tram up to the Primates, Cats & Aquatics area, then walking back down the Deckwalk. Gradually-sloped ramps and staircases make for a leisurely walk through the cool, shaded woods on a warm day. There is also a scenic overlook, with beautiful views of Waterfowl Lake in the distance.
- The Public Greenhouse is small, but has a nice variety of plants and tropical flowers. It also offers a chance to see several different butterfly species which are released in the warm, humid space that mimics the jungles of their native countries.
- Inside The Rain Forest, a thunderstorm occurs over a small, indoor lake every 20 minutes or so, complete with thunder and lightning! This large, glass-domed building is also the home of boa constrictors, capybara, ocelots, piranha, orangutan, caiman, and several small but intensely-colored frogs and amphibians. There is a waterfall inside the building, and several tropical plants – including orchids and bromeliads – are also on display.
Conveniently located throughout the park are benches, great for taking a few minutes to rest or just people-watch. There are also several restrooms and a few small food stands, offering things like hotdogs, soft pretzels, sno-cones, cotton candy and soft drinks. The Food Court includes restaurants like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, particularly good for children who might prefer familiar choices for dinner. Of course you can also bring a cooler with you, which may be left in the Picnic Pavilion.
The Cleveland Zoo is a great place to spend a day; the several ecologically-themed habitats are visually interesting, and the wide variety of animals is impressive. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, gorillas, lemurs, orangutans, spider monkeys, zebras, wolves, bears, giraffes, kangaroos, koalas, condors, eagles, rhinos, hippos, elephants… they have just about everything one could ever ask for!
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is located at 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109.
Visit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website at https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo
To learn more about things to see and do in Cleveland, visit http://www.thisiscleveland.com/
For gay traveler information about Cleveland, visit http://www.thisiscleveland.com/planning-tools/lgbt/
![]() Article and photos by Christopher Skelley
Copyright 2018 Sunny Harbor Publishing Sunny Harbor Publishing, PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956 Phone: 321-446-7552 Email: [email protected] Website: www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org |
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Gay Travelers Magazine
the best cruise & travel news, tips & reviews for the sensible gay traveler
the best cruise & travel news, tips & reviews for the sensible gay traveler